I’m back at Costco again, though this picture was taken on a different day from the blue hour exterior picture I posted a few days ago.

If you are familiar with these warehouse stores, you know there is a considerable distance from front to back. You can hardly make it out in this picture, but the front of the store is barely visible. That’s where the cash registers are, and I’m in line at the very back of the store. I wasn’t angry or frustrated but more fascinated by the volume of people. Luckily, the self-checkout line moves at a steady pace. It’s not like being on the line for a Disneyland ride.

I also have only myself to blame. Costco is always a madhouse on the weekends, and the EXIF data indicates this was on a Saturday 30 minutes before closing. During the pandemic, I optimized my Costco buying process and found the best day to shop. I still generally follow this rule. From my experience, Tuesday, followed by Wednesday, is the least crowded in Austin.

However, this North Austin location, the first Costco in Austin, always does brisk business. I’ve noticed that it’s slightly smaller than the newest stores further out in the suburbs—I’m estimating it to be about 20% smaller. I find those rare visits to other locations remarkably smooth and less crowded but not worth the longer drive.

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